[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8292-H8293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              KOREAN WAR VETERANS RECOGNITION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 292) to amend title 4, United States Code, to add 
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of days on which 
the flag should especially be displayed.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 292

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

        This Act may be cited as the ``Korean War Veterans 
     Recognition Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DISPLAY OF FLAG ON NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS 
                   ARMISTICE DAY.

        Section 6(d) of title 4, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting ``National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 
     27;'' after ``July 4;''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson-Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 292.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill adds the National Korean War Veterans 
Armistice

[[Page H8293]]

Day to the list of days upon which the American flag should especially 
be displayed. Currently, title 4 of the U.S. Code provides that the 
flag should be displayed on all days, but specifically mentions 10 
permanent Federal holidays on which the flag should be displayed. This 
bill would amend title 4 to include July 27, the National Korean War 
Armistice Day.
  Nearly 1.8 million American soldiers fought bravely in harsh weather 
and foreign terrain over the course of 3 years to defend democratic 
South Korea from an offensive invasion launched by communist North 
Korea when its armed forces crossed the 38th parallel. On July 27, 
1953, an armistice was signed and North Korea withdrew to its side 
allowing South Korea to remain an independent democratic nation. At the 
war's conclusion, over 103,000 American soldiers had been wounded, and 
36,577 were killed.
  The 10 permanent Federal holidays that are currently listed in law 
serve to recognize the people and events that have shaped the character 
of our Nation. By adding this day to this list, the bill will ensure 
that those who fought and died so bravely in the Korean War are 
recognized for their contribution to our Nation. I urge my colleagues 
to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is certainly appropriate in the backdrop of the 
Operation Iraqi Freedom when our young men and women are facing danger 
in supporting and uplifting the values of this Nation to be able to 
expand our recognition of all of those who have offered themselves on 
behalf of the values of this Nation.
  I rise to support the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2003, 
H.R. 292, and I urge my colleagues to support it. The legislation was 
reported unanimously by the Committee on the Judiciary and deserves 
support. The bill is very straightforward. It would add the 
commemoration of the Korean War Armistice designated by Congress as 
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of important 
occasions on which the flag is specially displayed. These holidays now 
include the birthdays of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Presidents 
Washington and Lincoln, Memorial Day, and July 4, among others.
  Clearly in the backdrop of the 50th anniversary or commemoration of 
the Korean war and our tribute over the past year of the United States 
to the Korean war veterans, it is certainly appropriate to be able to 
acknowledge and to rephrase the terminology ``the forgotten war.'' 
Sometimes the Korean war is called the forgotten war. The courageous 
service and sacrifice of our Korean war veterans must never be 
forgotten, and I emphasize that. It deserves to be commemorated and 
honored.
  This commemoration deserves to be among those days upon which the 
flag is especially flown in honor of that service. Again, to all of our 
service men and women serving now and our veterans, it is certainly our 
responsibility and challenge to continue to respect you and admire the 
work and service you have given and to commit to you again as veterans 
that we will never allow any undermining of our commitment to you for 
lifetime care. This particular recognition acknowledges the veterans of 
a war that will not be forgotten. I urge the adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Korean War Veterans Recognition 
Act and urge my colleagues to support it. This legislation was reported 
unanimously by the Judiciary Committee and deserves every member's 
support.
  This bill is very straightforward. It would add the commemoration of 
the Korean War Armistice, designated by Congress as ``National Korean 
War Veterans' Armistice Day,'' to the list of important occasions on 
which the flag is specially displayed. These holidays include the 
birthdays of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Presidents Washington and 
Lincoln, Memorial Day, and July 4th, among others.
  Although sometimes called the ``forgotten war,'' the courageous 
service and sacrifice of our Korean war veterans must never be 
forgotten. It deserves to be commemorated and honored. This 
commemoration deserves to be among those days on which the flag is 
specially flown in honor of that service.
  I urge the adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume 
to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly).
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the bill before the House today makes 
certain that the heroes of America's forgotten war are not forgotten. 
It is important because if we look at the Korean War Veterans Memorial 
here in Washington, D.C., we will see the words ``Freedom is not 
free.'' We need to remind ourselves that over 36,000 Americans lost 
their lives in a war that has been essentially simply forgotten by 
many, many people.
  Flying the flag on this day makes a difference because people will 
look at it, young people will look at it, and they will say why is the 
flag flying especially today. The flag is flying because it is a 
reminder and a recognition of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. It 
is a day when we all should stop and remember a tremendously difficult 
hard-fought war. We had an armistice there, and 1.8 million members of 
the United States Armed Forces fought bravely to preserve freedom and 
democracy in Korea; and we need to take time out to honor them.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Chairman Sensenbrenner) for his leadership and his assistance in 
bringing this measure to the floor this morning, and I urge all Members 
to support H.R. 292.

                              {time}  1045

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, our Korean war commemoration, 
which began on June 25, 2000, on the 50th anniversary of the invasion 
of South Korea, continues through Veteran's Day this year.
  This past July 27th held special significance because it marked the 
50th anniversary of the Korean war armistice.
  Begun only 5 years after the end of World War II, the Korean war was, 
in many ways, the first reminder that America must remain the world's 
leading force for peace, prosperity and freedom--a responsibility we 
still hold today.
  Called to fight back the brutal forces of communism, 1.8 million 
Americans courageously participated in the Korean war. The United 
States suffered over 36,000 dead and over 100,000 wounded in some of 
the most horrific conditions in the history of warfare. And even today 
there are still over 8,000 unaccounted for.
  The service and sacrifices of our Korean war veterans 50 years ago 
saved a nation from Communist enslavement and gave South Korea the 
opportunity to develop and flourish under freedom and democracy.
  Sadly, the Korean war is sometimes referred to as the ``forgotten 
war.''
  Perhaps it was the mood of a nation wanting to return to peace after 
the Second World War. But for the U.S. men and women who served, and 
for the families and friends of those who paid the ultimate price, the 
Korean war can never be forgotten.
  By adding the Korean war veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list 
of days on which the United States Flag should be displayed, this 
Congress is sending a message, loud and clear, that ``we will never 
forget.''
  All Americans must know, as the words etched on the Korean War 
Memorial reminds us, that ``freedom is not free.'' It cannot be taken 
for granted.
  Should this great country wish to preserve its freedom, we must pay 
tribute to those who paid the price for it.
  Korean war veterans, I salute you.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 292.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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